April 23-24 Cocoa FL

Fuel prices are a guessing game. After listening to the news last night and oil hit $115 a barrel I thought I had better fill up with diesel fuel here at Vero Beach. The price was not too bad in today's market -$3.96 + sales tax and a 10 cents per gal discount for taking on 200 gallons or more. Took on 196 gallons but they gave me the .10 per gallon discount anyway. After refueling and leaving in a light NW wind we were off for Cocoa Fl some 53 miles away. Weather Underground predicted 15 knot winds out of the N/NE. About 2 hours into the journey the winds picked up dramatically and the wide Indian River started to develop a 1-2' wave action. The eisenglass on the flybridge flapped incessantly and as the journey continued, the flapping noise increased and the whitecaps on the River became constant and the wind was now howling at a consistent 30 mph. As we approached Cocoa, a trawler was dragging its anchor from an anchorage in the lee of the Cocoa bridge. The Coast guard was alerted to the situation. No one was onboard, so I am sure the owner will be quite surprised when he returns to his missing boat. Our marina, Cocoa Village Marina is totally exposed to the wind, but somewhat protected by a breakwater. The channel leading to the Marina was narrow, but well marked. In order to stay in the channel, Silver Foxes could not slow down much, or out of the channel we would go because of the wind. Once inside the Marina the 3' waves laid down and the wind was our only opponent but there were two dockhands along with Judy's able assistance we slipped into our berth without fanfare. Very neat old town here. Judy and I walked into town and found Murdock's Pub. Corned Beef and cabbage was their special. Very very good.

With an Enterprise rental car in hand we are off today, Thursday, to the Kennedy Space Center. Spent the whole day there. We were last here with our children back in 1984. Great day, not too crowded. I rode the launch simulator, which supposedly duplicates what the astronauts feel as the orbiter is launched. The shaking is realistic but the G force cannot be duplicated and besides if it was it would probably due in several of the old duffers on board . A bus tour took us very close to the Orbiter launch site. If we had been a few days later we would probably have seen the launch being readied for the next launch of May 31 Wind has died down and tonight we had Wahoo fish from the Abacos. Also met Prime Time--they just started the loop and they are from California. The picture is of Judy with perhaps a real Astronaut